This tour of the Golden State is packed with fun and adventure. You will explore the beautiful beaches in Santa Cruz, California, take in the rugged stretch of coastline, and meet some colorful critters in the beach’s nearby tidepools. Participate in a restoration project with Marin County Parks organization, and learn to climb on a secluded granite dome near Yosemite National Park. Hike to stunning waterfalls in Yosemite National Park, whitewater raft the American River, and learn to surf on quintessential northern California beaches. Finally, wrap up your adventure with a tour of San Francisco, including Fisherman’s Wharf and the Golden Gate Bridge. This is one of our favorite teen adventure summer camps!
California Adventure
Enroll NowCalifornia Adventure
Destination
California
Current Grades
8th-10th
Airports
Arrive: San Francisco, CA (SFO)
Depart: San Francisco, CA (SFO)

Itinerary
Day 1: Explore Santa Cruz
Put on your hiking boots and get ready to explore the rugged coastline of Santa Cruz. We will hike alongside giant redwood trees and get glimpses of the beautiful endless coast. If we’re lucky we’ll spot some famous banana slugs in the Santa Cruz mountains and wave to some seals in the Pacific. We’ll polish off our tour with a drive on the scenic Highway 1 along the California coastline, until we reach Manresa State Park to camp beachside under the stars.
Accommodation: Camping
Day 2: Boardwalk and Tidepool Exploration
Wake up and head into town to explore the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk! After playing some games and hopping on some rides, we will head to Natural Bridges State Park where we will explore tide pools and learn about some sea critters native to the California Coast. We’ll play games on the beach and watch surfers shred the waves and pick up some techniques as we prepare for our own surf lessons.
Accommodation: Camping
Dates and Prices
-
Departure Day
06/06/24
-
Return Day
06/17/24
-
Grade
8-10
-
Price
$4,188
-
Availability
Open
-
Departure Day
06/30/24
-
Return Day
07/11/24
-
Grade
8-10
-
Price
$4,188
-
Availability
Limited
-
Departure Day
07/29/24
-
Return Day
08/09/24
-
Grade
8–10
-
Price
$4,188
-
Availability
Limited
Departure Day | Return Day | Grade | Price | Availability |
---|---|---|---|---|
06/06/24
|
06/17/24
|
8-10
|
$4,188
|
open
|
06/30/24
|
07/11/24
|
8-10
|
$4,188
|
limited
|
07/29/24
|
08/09/24
|
8–10
|
$4,188
|
limited
|
Accommodations & Service
Community Service: Approximately 5 Hours
- Marin County service project: Removing invasive species and environment awareness.
Accommodations:
- 11 nights of camping. All campgrounds have running water and bathroom facilities on site. Bold Earth will provide comfortable 4-person tents.
Activities
Community service: 5 hours
Hiking
Rock climbing
Sightseeing
Surfing
Whitewater rafting
Reviews
Whitewater rafting was super exciting, and my boat crew had tons of fun. Hanging out around camp and playing games together was also extremely fun, and I had a great time bonding and sharing experiences with everyone.
This was our daughter’s first experience with going away to camp. She went in knowing no one and was excited for the opportunity to make new connections. My wife and I were excited for the call you get after a few days in. One of the first comments from this call was “I don’t want to leave.” Needless to say she was having the time of her life!
Our daughter loved all of the outdoor activities she encountered and made lifelong friendships. The counselors were INCREDIBLE! We’re are so grateful to the trip leaders and to everyone at Bold Earth!
My favorite part about the trip was the variety of activities and places we visited and participated in. Every day we were doing something different, which made the trip really exciting and engaging.
I love what Bold Earth is about. It was the perfect experience for me, as I want to help out the Earth in any way that I can, and Bold Earth does exactly that. Plus, the activities are super fun. I really loved the rock climbing and the surfing. Two awesome experiences, but it definitely doesn’t compare to the friendships that you make not only with the people there, but also the trip leaders. I’d recommend Bold Earth to people who want to have fun, help the earth, and people who love to camp.
Sarah had a great time, connected with people, and gained confidence. Bold Earth was easy to reach, answered questions promptly, and worked with us when travel plans went awry.
It was very exciting to hear about Blythe’s trip when she got home. I think this was a great experience for her, and I definitely recommend Bold Earth to everyone.
This was a life-changing experience for our daughter – Bold Earth provided an opportunity to grow beyond herself, test her independence in a new environment and with new people, and build self-reliance.
Bold Earth greatly increased my curiosity and the desire to travel more. Seeing such amazing things on the trip has shown me that there is so much that I have yet to see.
My son had a blast! As a parent I could NOT have been more impressed. I have taken every opportunity to sing Bold Earth’s praises to other parents I know. 100% positive the whole experience.